Lens Metric Scores

Further readings for the Sony 500mm F4 G SSM

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Following our recommendations for the flagship Sony SLT-A99, we’ve had the opportunity to assess the firm’s semi-professional 24-Mpix DT (APS-C) format model - the SLT-A77 - with a sizeable collection of Sony and third-party prime and zoom models to assess image quality. Read onto find out which of these models perform best when paired with the camera.

Super-telephoto lenses like these are indispensible for shooting action, sports and wildlife but their high price and limited versatility restricts accessibility to the average user. Most are to be found in the hands of photojournalists working on behalf of picture agencies, but it’s also true to say that a fair number are used by wildlife photographers including working professionals and well-heeled enthusiasts. Read on to see if the current iterations deserve their celebrated status.

Sony is often quoted as having aspirations to rival Nikon and Canon but, since taking over the SLR business of Konica Minolta, has so far shown only a handful of pro-grade lenses. The SAL500F40G is one such lens, more popularly known as the 500mm f/4.0DG SSM, and with a price tag of $13,000 it’s aimed squarely at professionals and well-heeled enthusiasts. We’ve had the opportunity to assess the new lens at our lab in Seattle, please read on to see how the new Sony performs and if it has what it takes to compete with the current Canon and Nikon duopoly.

With the vagaries of photographing wildlife, the flexibility of a telephoto zoom would appear to be an attractive solution. However, image quality is often a compromise at the maximum aperture and longest focal length, typically the most crucial settings. We’ve pulled some lens data from our database and put together a round up of popular zoom lenses over the years (and made some comparisons with high performance primes). Read on to find out which models have the best image quality.

Comments

"Interesting" scoring...

DxOMark scores these lenses in 5 categories. When comparing Sony 500mm/4 to Nikon 500mm/4, using both companys' flagship bodies, a99 vs. D800, Sony has better scores in all 5 categories. Yet, Nikon gets a 25 score overall and Sony only rates a 22? What is going on that is not being shown here?

Readers should also compare the scores on the Canon 500/4, which seems to also come out short in the overall comparison after winning in 4 out of 5 categories, with a tie in the 5th.

Not sure that I want to continue to use DxOMark as an "unbiased" resource any more.

First replies for this comment

Re: \

Hello,

Thanks for your comment.

You can check our Sony 500mm review : Sony 500mm f/4 G SSM review: The longest super telephoto prime lens ever tested by DxOMark http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Sony-500mm-f-4-G-SSM-review-The-longest-super-telephoto-prime-lens-ever-tested-by-DxOMarkThis lens is pretty good but sharpness is a bit low compared with 300mm (which was the only lenses we had when we publish this review)If you compare it to the Nikon 500mm: http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare-Camera-Lenses/Compare-lenses/%28lens1%29/891/%28brand%29/Sony/%28camera1%29/604/%28lens2%29/1174/%28brand2%29/Nikkor/%28camera2%29/792

The main difference is the Camera and that create the difference on the dxomark score.

qx

How is possible that A580 with this beast can score in sharpness only 5 P-MPix? I have seen that A580 body scores lower even than A550/A500 for 50mm F1.4 lens. And surprising this is one of the best sensor from Sony classical DSLR.

500/4 compared

Using the data here at DxO mark, I compared the three 500mm lenses from Nikon, Sony and Canon using similar cameras, say D3x, A850 and 1DsIII. The results may surprise everyone including testers here: all three lenses are almost equally sharp. The transmission of Canon and Nikon is only 4.5T as compared that that of Sony 4.3T. I wonder how these critics drawn against Sony coming from a very scientific lab testers.

First replies for this comment

Re: 500/4 compared

Hello!

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

We reviewed the 500mm from Sony before having measured its direct competitor, so the only comparison available was maybe unfair for this very good lens :)We will add another comparison with the 500mm competitors.

Sony 500mm f4 test review

<div id="linkdxomark">This a comment for <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lenses/Camera-Lens-Database/Sony/Sony-500mm-F4-G-SSM">this page on the website</a></div>I own the Sony 500 and the Minolta 600mm lens. I was disappointed about he sharpness and focusing. I called Sony and they advised me to use the micro adjustment . I tried to calibrate the lens in my 45feet living room .It was sharp focus only indoor but it was still not focus well outdoor so I re-calibrated to focus at my backyard tree which is about 150feet from the house. Now it is so sharp and as sharp as my Minolta 600mm or better.Hope to hear from you.